ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Friday ordered Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to join the investigation into attacks on Parliament House, the Pakistan Television building and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo, and a case regarding violation of the Loudspeaker Act, during the party’s 2014 sit-in.

ATC Judge Shahrukh Arjuman has directed Mr Khan to submit to questioning by investigating officers and record his statements in the cases by Dec 7.

When the judge asked an investigating officer when he would record Mr Khan’s statement, the officer replied that this was “up to the accused person”. The judge reminded him that he was the investigating officer, and had to inform the suspect as to when he should appear before him.

ATC directs PTI chief to submit to questioning, record statements by Dec 7

The court directions to join the investigations before the police at the police station came after state counsel told the court that Mr Khan had sent a written statement, which could not be considered ‘joining the investigation’. He said it was essential for Mr Khan to appear before the police so that he could be questioned.

Mr Khan’s counsel Babar Awan said Mr Khan would record a statement at the police station, but asked the court to adjourn the case for a longer period of time, which the court turned down.

The court initially fixed Dec 4 as the date for the next hearing, but Mr Awan told the court that Mr Khan would be attending a rally that day and would not be able to appear before the court. The court then changed the date of the next hearing to Dec 7.

Mr Khan surrendered before the ATC on Nov 14 to seek pre-arrest bail in the aforementioned cases, which he was granted against surety of Rs200,000 each in four cases and directions to “join the police investigation [on Nov 14]”.

Mr Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri and several others were booked for their alleged involvement in an attack on SSP Junejo, who was physically assaulted by protesters on Constitution Avenue on Sept 1, 2014, less than 24 hours into his first day as SSP (operations).

Party leaders and over a hundred PTI and PAT workers and supporters were also booked in the PTV and parliament attack cases. Workers arrested during the 2014 sit-in were released on bail in the cases.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2017